The Management of European Structural Funds in Western Scotland ISPA Partners Meeting April 2003...
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Transcript of The Management of European Structural Funds in Western Scotland ISPA Partners Meeting April 2003...
The Management of European Structural Funds in
Western Scotland
ISPA Partners Meeting April 2003
Laurie Russell
Strathclyde European Partnership
SCOTLAND?
Objective 1 transition310m euro
Objective 273m euroObjective 2 480m euro
EUROPEAN FUNDS MAP
Objective 2250m euro
Objective 3310m euro
INSTITUTIONS
Scottish ExecutiveManaging Authority
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
and Executive of Ministers
Politicians Civil servants Agencies
Local councils
National enterprise
agency
Universities and colleges
Wide range of non governmentorganisations
Partners
EuropeanCommissionScottish
Executive
SEP Ltd
PROCESS
ROLES
• SPD developed in partnership by Scottish Executive, SEP Ltd, local partners and EC
• Administration of the Programmes:–Scottish Executive is the managing authority
–Day to day management devolved to SEP Ltd
• Public sector bodies (local councils, universities, colleges, enterprise agencies) develop projects and bid for European Funds support
• Decisions on funding awards are taken by partnership committees
• Devolved Programme management in Strathclyde since 1988 - similar model in other Scottish regions since 1994
• Company limited by guarantee - not for profit with clear public sector values
• Programme experience:– Objectives 2, – ERDF & ESF– Community Initiatives - RECHAR, URBAN,
RESIDER, EQUAL– Regional Innovation Strategy, TEP
WHAT IS SEP LTD?
WHAT DOES SEP LTD DO?
• Pre-application advice and assistance• Managing the project life cycle• Managing the decision making process
and committee system• Processing project applications, issuing
offers of grant, processing claims, carrying out monitoring visits
• Specialist support on horizontal themes• Disseminating good practice & learning• Publicising European Funds
HOW IS THIS FUNDED?• Technical Assistance and Co-finance:
– 50% from ERDF and ESF technical assistance
– 50% from partners
• Partners contributions:– Percentage of the Funds each is awarded
– Set by SEP Ltd Board of Directors, agreed with Monitoring Committee
– Fixed for duration of Programme
– Not eligible for European Funds
• Budget covers:– All office, staff and equipment
– Publicity and marketing
– Research into Programme issues
HOW ARE FUNDS DISTRIBUTED?
Development
Application
Assessment
Appraisal
Decision
Offer
SEP Ltd staff working with partners pre-submission
Projects received, referenced and acknowledged
Technical eligibility, horizontal themes, suitability
Selection criteria, scoring system, recommendations
Programme Implementing Committee considers all recommendations
Approved projects grant offer within 10 days of Ministerial approval of decisions
APPLICATION PROCESSPROGRAMMEPROGRAMME
IMPLEMENTINGIMPLEMENTINGCOMMITTEECOMMITTEE
ECONOMIC & SOCIAL
COHESION
COMPETITIVELOCATION
LABOURMARKET
COMPETITIVESMEs
PARTNERSApply
Decide
Appraise
Assess
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCOTTISH SYSTEM
• Regional economic planning - closer to problems leads to appropriate solutions
• Flexible co-finance for projects - bottom up approach• Partnership - every agency has equal status • Decisions are made by consensus• Targeting resources on areas of economic need -
strong local area development focus• Monitoring and evaluation built in • Sharing our knowledge / experience• Visibility of Europe on the ground
ADVANTAGES
• Consistent with and sensitive to but not driven by political priorities
• Able to survive institutional or political change• Positive Scottish Parliament independent
review in 2000 • Transparent and accountable• Equitable - all partners involved and have equal
voice• Balances objective appraisal criteria with
expertise and experience of partners
DOWNSIDE?
• Participation takes time, consultation takes longer
• Effort needed to develop partnerships - they don’t happen naturally or quickly
• Will need new skills and training needed• Some agencies will argue against transparency• Need to be clear about lines of accountability
and who does what• Genuine regional policy will require the centre
to relinquish power
CONCLUSION
• Partnership can be slower and therefore more expensive
• But the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term issues– High level of positive outcomes – Innovative Programme management and
projects– EC policy themes can be needed to mainstream
at member state level – Exchanging policies, ideas and projects
between regions and with the EC
Up to date information…
www.wsep.co.uk
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